TOWN GO OUT OF KENT SENIOR CUP

Injury hit Whitstable Town, were knocked out the Kent Senior Cup against ten man Thamesmead Town on Tuesday evening.

The early exchanges were even with the hosts having the first opportunity after two minutes when a Rowan Liburd free kick curled around the wall and was pushed wide by Luke Watkins. Conner Coyne had the first attempt at the other end after four minutes when he had a shot easily collected by Vincente Manasete in the Thamesmead goal. The game continued end to end as man of the match Adem Ramadan had a shot well saved by Watkins and then three minutes later Ian Pulman hit a long range shot wide. Liburd was then to break the Whitstable offside trap as he broke through and fired past the far post. On 25 minutes the ever dangerous Tom Loynes hit a speculative long range drive just wide but it was Thamesmead who broke the deadlock on 29 minutes when Liburd picked up a rebound and chipped the ball over Watkins into the Whitstable net. Six minutes later Liburd had another chance as his free kick from the

Tom Loynes has an attempt

edge of the area was deflected over the bar. However two minutes later Whitstable were level when Tom Loynes managed to neatly chip the ball over the Manasete into the Thamesmead net. The deadlock at half time was a fair reflection of the balance of play in the first half.

Thamesmead were reduced to ten men three minutes into the second half when Rashid Kamara was shown a red card as he appeared to punch Luke Girt. The visitors began to press and Kane Rowland hooked the ball over the bar after 53 minutes and then immediately Loynes cut in and had a shot well saved held by substitute keeper Rob Budd. Thamesmead still were creating chances and Ramadan weaved his way through the Whitstable defence and shot wide of the target. Budd was in the action again on 56 minutes as he denied Pulman but then Thamesmead regained the lead as Liburd appeared to be brought down in the penalty area. Up stepped Ramadan who sent Watkins the wrong way. It was now the hosts who

Nick Treadwell heads just wide

were creating the chances and on 68 minutes ex- Whitstable defender Ollie Lee had a shot well saved by Watkins. Thamesmead sealed the game on 75 minutes as Ramadan got his second as he pounced on a rebound and slid the ball home. On 79 minutes Liburd was in the action again as he slammed a ball onto the outside of the post. The last ten minutes saw Whitstable desperately look to get back in the game but could find no way through the resolute Thamesmead defence.

So Town’s 2014/2015 Cup challenges are over and we are left to concentrate on progress in the league.